Attachable Hooded Garment Through the Use of Straps and Clips

ABSTRACT

A standalone hood that can be secured to a person for convenient donning and doffing, through the use of straps and clips.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/569,115 filed Oct. 6, 2017.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to clothing, specific headwear also referred to as a hood.

BACKGROUND

Headwear, specifically the portion of hooded garments intended to cover one's head also referred to as a hood, is used for several purposes. One purpose is to maintain warmth about the neck and head area. Another purpose is to provide shade to the neck and head area as to protect from the sun rays. In addition to the aforementioned purposes, a person might also wear a hood as fashion accessory.

With some exceptions, hoods are permanently attached to shirts, sweaters, and jackets. Being attached allows for the hood to be worn down and off of the user's head, or worn up and on the user's head. However, in order to utilize the benefits of a hood, one has to also wear the shirt, sweater, or jacket that the hood is attached to, thereby limiting flexibility or adaptability.

There is a desire for a standalone hood garment that can be easily attached to a person, and flexibility as to what object the hood can be attached to. The advantages of a hood can be enjoyed with any outfit or any accompanied accessory.

In the present field of the invention, there has been prior art relating to attachable garments, standalone hoods, and the incorporation into an accessory such as a backpack.

Abandoned U.S. application Ser. No. 12/240,821 describes a hooded backpack with pockets for electronic devices and headphones. The hood is specifically intended to house and use electronic audio devices while wearing a backpack. There is no versatility in the mechanism for attaching the hood, and is limited to only backpacks.

Abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/327,910 describes a detachable and adjustable hood that can be secured with clips, and can be tightened with strings. However, the strings and mating clips are designed to wrap around a circular feature such as a shirt collar or human neck, and then used to secure and tighten around said circular feature. Buttons are included for mating directly with a shirt button slot opening. The clips are simple U-shaped hooks and are intended to mate only with each other to secure the hood around the user's neck. There is no versatility or convenience for attaching to other garments, other than shirt collars, or attaching to other accessories such as backpacks and purses.

Abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/709,238 describes a means by which to attach a hood garment to another garment, particularly a shirt or jacket with a collar. The attachable hood utilizes an extension with an attachment surface, and requires an opposite attachment surface to be installed on the desired garment.

Pending U.S. application Ser. No. 15/350,012 describes a hood with additional hole for the user's head to pass through, but does not specify a means of securing the hood.

US Design Grant 339912 S describes a hood that is incorporated into the backpack as one unit. The invention does not define a hood garment that can be attached and detached from any backpack of the user's choice.

US Design Grant 781532 S1 describes a hood that is permanently incorporated into a backpack and can be stashed in a zippered pouch for storing. This patent does not detail a specific means of attaching and detaching a hood to backpack in a convenient manner.

US Design Grant 744207 S1 describes a standalone hood that features drawstrings, but does not have the capability to dynamically attach to other garments.

Commercially available is a standalone headdress that covers one's head and also includes two extruding portions of fabric that are worn over the chest and down to the waist and hip area, where the extrusions end in pockets for insertion of the hands. There is no means of securing the headdress to the person or to an accessory, for it simply rests on the shoulders.

The present invention is unique in the manner by which the hood garment attaches to other garments, accessories, and itself. The present invention does not require any additional adjustment or installment to the desired garment to be attached, nor does the present invention require specific features in order to properly mate to desired garment. Also, unique to the present invention is the incorporation of air vents, hidden pockets, and a built-in facemask.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a garment for draping over a person's head, shoulders, and neck, which can also be referred to as a standalone hood, that can be attached to backpacks, other garments, accessories, or to itself through the use of straps and clips. The intention of the garment can be for temperature control, protection, fashion, or a combination of all. The attachable and detachable feature gives the user the option to attach the garment to an object of their choice such as a backpack or purse, providing a convenient means of carrying the garment and having the garment immediately ready to drape over the user's head. Optionally, the garment can be worn by attaching to itself and creating a closed loop around the user's neck. Typically, the present invention is situated behind the user's head as to be readily available for donning.

The key advantages of a strap and clip system used in a hood, are the distance at which the strap can reach and the versatility of a clip. A standalone hood requires stability in order to stay situated in the proper position behind a person's head. When in situations were wardrobe can vary dramatically, the amount and type of objects to secure a standalone hood can be scarce. There is a desire for a standalone hood that has versatility in the manner by which it is secured.

For added protection against the environment, a facemask may incorporated into the hood. In addition, within the garment can be open vents amongst the fabric to allow for air flow. The garment can be used for warmth and coverage from cold weather and rain, or can provide shade and a means to hold moisture for when in sunny and hot weather. An additional use may be to shield from hazardous or uncomfortable conditions such as in a location with high wind speeds.

The garment can be designed to represent animals, characters, and other representations through the use of additional fabricated features such as ears, horns, limbs, and different colored graphics. Additionally, the garment can be complimented with jewelry to add aesthetics.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention as seen from a isometric bottom view.

FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of the clip and strap, and how each part may be assembled to the hood, as seen from an isometric view.

FIG. 3 is a representation of the present invention with the facemask situated in an extended frontal position, as seen from an isometric top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the present invention, 100, comprises of a garment made of a loose fabric material that drapes over the head, also known as a hood, 101. At least one closed-loop opening such as a loop or a hole, 103, is incorporated into the fabric of the hood, 101. The structure of said hole, 103, can be made out of a fabric material or can also be a more solid material such as plastic or metal. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hole, 103, is used by a strap, 104, that is affixed to the hole, 103, by intertwining or looping through the hole, 103, establishing the hole, 103, as the anchor point. In the preferred embodiment, the strap, 105, comprises of at least one open link, 107, that can be opened and closed, allowing for removal and replacement of the strap, 105, to the hole, 103. Attached to the strap, 105, is the a clip, 104, which is has free range of motion. The clip, 104, material can be a solid material such as plastic, wood, or metal. The strap, 105, material can be leather, fabric, or a metal link chain. The clip, 104, is meant to clamp to articles of clothing or accessories such as the shoulder strap of a backpack or a shirt collar, or alternatively can be attached to another location on the hood, 101, or another clip, creating a closed loop.

In an alternate embodiment, the strap, 105, can be sewn directly onto the hood, 101, eliminating the need for a hole, 103.

Optionally, the user can wrap the strap, 105, around the desired object such as a backpack strap and use the clip, 104, to close the loop for added security.

The clip, 104, utilizes a spring force to clamp onto the desired object, in which the spring force could come from an added spring or even the natural mechanical spring force of the clip material. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment for the clip, 104, includes a section for clamping onto the desired object, and another section for linking to the strap, 105. One example of the geometry of the clip, 104, and how the clip, 104, strap, 105, and hood, 101, are assembled together is shown in FIG. 2.

The invention could also be made up of a combination of holes, 103, and loops in different locations along the rim of the hood, 101, allowing for flexibility in where the user can attach the clip, 104.

Optionally, as represented in FIG. 1, within the fabric of the hood, 101, can be open vents, 106, in order to allow for air flow from outside of the hood, 101. The vents, 106, can be always open, or can be opened and closed with an incorporated latch technology such as a zipper, Velcro, or other conventional means. The vents, 106, can be open through-holes or can be covered with a porous mesh material.

Optionally, sewn into the inner lining of the hood, 101, is a pocket, 102, which may be used to stow belongings.

Optionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a facemask, 108, can incorporated into the hood for added protection against the elements. One end of the facemask, 108, is sewn into the inner lining of the hood, 101, and the opposite end is secured by a mechanical means such as a snap button or hook-and-loop surfaces.

The portions of the present invention made out of a fabric material, the hood, 101, the facemask, 108, and strap, 105, can be produced and assembled by sewing as well as other conventional textile manufacturing methods. The clip, 104, and strap, 105, as a solid material, can be plastic injection molded, wire bend formed, stamped, milled, or routed.

Optionally, the hood, 101, can incorporate jewelry for an added aesthetic value as well as functional value. A metal necklace can be attached to each side of the hood, 101, inserting into at least two holes, 103, which acts as a barrier that helps keep the hood, 101, assembly secured around the user's neck as well as a counter-weight to the rest of hood, 101, keeping the hood, 101, in place.

OPERATION

The present invention as a garment is worn by the user and also attached to another article of clothing worn by the user such as a shoulder strap, shirt collar, or waistband which is attached via the clip. When the user does not wish to wear the garment over his or her head, the garment is flipped back behind his or her head, away from his or her body, but still secured. When the user is ready to wear the garment, the garment is flipped forward and over his or her head.

Optionally, the garment can be detached and worn freely.

In an alternate embodiment, the garment can feature more than one hole in different locations among the garment, in which the user can insert clips, and can alternate the amount and position of clips as desired. Depending on the desired anchor point, the user can insert that clip in a garment hole that is at the most convenient location, and the clip is then used to clip on to the desired object from the most advantageous position. More than one clip can be used in more than one hole for added security and stability.

When the clip is accompanied by a strap, the user has the versatility to run the strap through other articles of clothing such as a shirt, pants, or other accessory. Optionally the strap can be used as a necklace by running the strap across the front of the hood and applying the clip to the opposing side of the hood. Multiple straps can be run from one hole to add aesthetics and security.

Optionally, the user can open or close the vent within the hood fabric, controlling the amount of airflow through the garment while worn upon the user's head.

In an embodiment that incorporates a necklace, the user places the hood atop his or her head making sure the necklace travels in front of his or her face, and ultimately rests on his or her chest.

In the event that user wishes to use the incorporated facemask, he or she pulls the facemask from behind his or her head around to the front of his or her face, protecting the face from the elements. The free end of the face mask is then secured to the inside of the hood via mechanical means such as a snap button or hook-and-loop surfaces. 

We claim:
 1. A standalone hood comprising: at least one hole whereabout at least one strap is linked, the strap further comprising of at least one clip.
 2. The standalone hood of claim 1 wherein the strap is a chain wherein at least one link in the chain is an openable loop.
 3. The standalone hood of claim 1 wherein the at least one clip is an assembly comprising of at least one torsional spring.
 4. The standalone hood of claim 1 further comprising of at least one open vent within the fabric.
 5. The standalone hood of claim 2 further comprising of at least one zipper bordering the vent effectively opening and closing the vent.
 6. The standalone hood of claim 1 further comprising of a facemask residing on the inner surface of the hood, and is fixed to the hood on one end of the facemask while having a free range of motion on the other end of the facemask.
 7. The standalone hood of claim 6 wherein the inner surface of the hood comprises of at least one loop, and the free end of the facemask comprises of at least one hook.
 8. The standalone hood of claim 6 wherein the inner surface of the hood and the free end of the facemask comprises of at least one snap button.
 9. The standalone hood of claim 1 further comprising of at least one pocket lining the inner surface of the hood. 